EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) has announced that its subsidiary, PEPS-JV (Melaka), has been appointed as the contract vehicle assembler for Great Wall Motor (GWM) here in Malaysia, after the two companies signed an agreement for local assembly (CKD) operations earlier this week that will run for a period of eight years.
As part of the agreement, EPMB will soon begin assembly and production works for the Haval H6 and Jolion SUVs at its manufacturing facility in Hicom Pegoh Industrial Park, Melaka, The Edge reports. EPMB aims to achieve an annual output of 20,000 units by 2028.
Besides GWM, EPMB has also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s BAIC International Development for the local production of the BAIC BJ40P and X55 II SUVs at the same Pegoh plant.
“From the group’s perspective, the decision to venture into car assembly reflects EPMB’s steadfast commitment to vertically integrate our operation. This strategic move presents a prime opportunity to expand our revenue streams and broaden our business portfolio,” EPMB group chief executive officer, Ahmad Razlan Mohamed, said in a statement.
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GWM has also recently started manufacturing the Ora Good Cat in Thailand, in a project that also includes a battery pack assembly plant, alongside a planned R&D centre in the future for the purpose of developing fully-electric pick-up trucks.
Despite that, EPMB said in a recent stock exchange filing that GWM plans to make Malaysia its ASEAN hub for right-hand drive models, including localised production of parts for selected models.
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